Author: Laura Bickle
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Source: Read via Oyster.
Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.
GOODREADS // AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // KOBO
Katie is a 16 year old Amish girl. She's happy with her life and her faith in God but she seeks more. She's excited about her upcoming Rumspringa. To experience the Outside world and see what life has to offer. She spends her days with her best friend, Elijah. She knows that he'll be her husband one day but she's focused on enjoying their lives in the present. I loved Katie. I thought that she was the perfect little rebellious Amish girl. She did her chores, respected her parents and cared for her little sister. I don't feel that her rebellions were that bad. She acted on her gut, what she felt in her heart. No one can be disliked for that. Elijah, on the other hand, I did not care for. He just seemed a little to good. He had that, "I'm to high and mighty for this petty stuff" attitude.
Katie defies the Elders of her community by taking in Alex. He's hurt and she can't turn a blind eye to that. I like Alex. I like Alex and Katie together. And I loved how he defended her and took all the blame on himself. Selfless. That's admirable. I can't wait to find out how their relationship progresses in the next book!
That brings us to the vampires. I've always been a vampire fan. I was excited to see them depicted as vicious monsters instead of gorgeous creatures. Vampires are monsters. They should be scary! Ms. Bickle made them scary. From the red, glowing eyes to the blood soaked carnage they left behind them, They were terrifying.
I don't think that I've read anything about the Amish before. It was intriguing. To learn about their lifestyle and their beliefs was just an added bonus to the story. I also really enjoyed Katie's struggle with her faith. It was realistic. We all struggle with our beliefs, especially in times of tragedy. It was something that I loved seeing her work out.
I would recommend The Hallowed Ones to everyone. This has been one of my favorite books that I've read so far this year! I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to dive into the next book!
